Conservation X Labs (CXL) is a Washington D.C.-based organization bringing together innovation and entrepreneurship to affect change in levels of efficiency, cost, speed, scale and sustainability of conservation efforts to end human-induced animal extinction.

In an open competition, CXL is seeking hardware and software submissions, as well as any solution idea that is enabled by technology and helps achieve a conservation outcome. The competition is aimed specifically at projects teams that are preparing their first prototype and provides a $3,500 grant to take the idea from blueprint to reality.

The strongest solutions and teams will draw from disciplines including behavioral sciences, engineering, computer science, molecular science and economics and consider the impact, sustainability (financial and environmental) and scalability of the proposed solution, not just monitoring changing landscapes and species populations but developing tangible solutions.

First round grantees will have the opportunity to enter the prototype of their solution in the second stage of the grant competition, which features $20,000 in awards.